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Monitoring rare or endangered species is vital for biodiversity conservation, but it is particularly challenging for hidden or elusive species. The subterranean Eurasian blind mole rats are such species. The newly identified endemic species of this group found in the Pannonian Basin (Central Europe) are highly threatened by extinction. Their concealed lifestyle complicates population monitoring, yet such data are crucial for their conservation. To address this problem, a new methodology called HRAMN was introduced, utilizing complex aerial cartographic surveys. The method was tested in two protected areas in Eastern Hungary, home of the endangered Hungarian blind mole rat (Nannospalax hungaricus hungaricus). HRAMN involves collecting data through aerial surveys and producing high-resolution orthophoto mosaics and digital surface models. These data allowed the identification of blind mole rat mounds and the monitoring of population trends. The HRAMN methodology proved to be a highly effective replacement for traditional full-field surveys of blind mole rat habitats. It is particularly useful for monitoring large areas, which had been previously unfeasible. However, certain limiting factors occurred in blind mole rat habitats that require field presence and control, even with the aerial imagery-based HRAMN method. Recommendations have been made to address those limiting factors that have been identified. HRAMN methodology not only enhances survey accuracy but also allows for frequent monitoring, providing unprecedented detail on the population dynamics of these rodents. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between the spatial patterns of the blind mole rat mounds and their habitats, offering deeper insights into their ecology and potentially aiding in the development of more effective conservation strategies.

Non-iridescent structural plumage reflectance is a sexually selected indicator of individual quality in several bird species. However, the structural basis of individual differences remains unclear. In particular, the dominant periodicity of the quasi-ordered feather barb nanostructure is of key importance in colour generation, but no study has successfully traced back reflectance parameters, and particularly hue, to nanostructural periodicity, although this would be key to deciphering the information content of individual variation. We used matrix small-angle X-ray scattering measurements of intact, stacked feather samples from the blue tit crown to estimate the sex-dependence and individual variation of nanostructure and its effects on light reflectance. Measures of nanostructural periodicity successfully predicted brightness, ultraviolet chroma and also hue, with statistically similar effects in the two sexes. However, we also observed a lack of overall effect of the nanostructural inhomogeneity estimate on reflectance chromaticity, sex-dependent accuracy in hue prediction and strong sex-dependence in position estimation error. We suggest that reflectance attributes are modified by other feather structures in a sex-specific manner, and that within-individual variation in nanostructural parameters exists within or among feathers and this confounds the interpretation of structure–reflectance relationships at the plumage area level.

This paper focuses on the goal of the Zero Vision initiative, which aims to reduce fatal traffic accidents to zero, and demonstrates how resilient operations and the continuous improvement of transportation systems can contribute to achieving this goal. It analyzes the tools for developing transportation resilience from various perspectives, including human factors, technology, regulation, and organizational culture. Additionally, it provides a detailed overview of the practical implementation of organizational resilience across different transport sectors, with particular attention paid to aviation and integrated disaster management. The development of organizational resilience contributes to strengthening safety culture, fostering innovation, managing risks, and reducing the number and severity of accidents.

Abstract Plumage color has traditionally been regarded as a static ornamental trait, but evidence is accumulating for significant color changes without molt that typically reduce the conspicuousness of ornamentation. In some species, the social partner seems to increase its reproductive investment if the color trait is experimentally enhanced, suggesting that color change could act as a signal. However, the information content of this signal is so far unclear. For example, birds in poor condition or making greater effort may deteriorate more severely. We used brood size manipulations to alter the reproductive effort of male and female collared flycatchers Ficedula albicollis. Both sexes showed less severe decline in some reflectance attribute of their white breast when their brood was experimentally reduced. In each sex, greater deterioration of the reflectance trait affected by the manipulation was accompanied by increased feeding rate by the partner. These feeding patterns do not prove, but are consistent with, a compensatory response by the partner to induced degradation. The manipulation effects on color change we detected confirm for the first time that plumage color deterioration can indicate current reproductive effort, thereby providing a potential fitness advantage to social partners that react to such deterioration.

Information on the exact nature of sexual dichromatism might be incomplete, often leading to the treatment of dichromatic species as monochromatic. This error is evident when the two sexes of a species look identical to the human eye, as in the great tit (Parus major). We measured reflectance in three sections (throat, breast, belly) of the abdominal black stripe of great tits during the pairing and nestling feeding periods and assessed differences between patch sections, sexes, and seasons using visual models. We found that the stripe, which had previously been considered a single, contiguous patch, consists of multiple patches. In males, the breast section differed markedly from the throat and belly sections in having higher total brightness and ultraviolet chroma, while the female’s breast seemed to be less bright than the two other regions, resulting in strong sexual dichromatism hidden from the human eye. Colouration was more pronounced in winter, but dichromatism was present in both periods. The hidden breast ultraviolet patch we discovered in males may act as a sexual ornament or a signal amplifier.

Xenobiotics never appear as single, isolated substances in the environment but instead as multi-component mixtures. However, our understanding of the ecotoxicology of mixtures is far from sufficient. In this study, three active pharmaceutical ingredients (carbamazepine, diclofenac, and ibuprofen) and three pesticides (S-metolachlor, terbuthylazine, and tebuconazole) from the most frequently detected emerging micropollutants were examined for their acute cytotoxicity, both individually and in combination, by bioluminescence inhibition in Aliivibrio fischeri (NRRL B-11177). Synergy, additive effects, and antagonism on cytotoxicity were determined using the combination index (CI) method. Additionally, PERMANOVA was performed to reveal the roles of these chemicals in binary, ternary, quaternary, quinary, and senary mixtures influencing the joint effects. Statistical analysis revealed a synergistic effect of diclofenac and carbamazepine, both individually and in combination within the mixtures. Diclofenac also exhibited synergy with S-metolachlor and when mixed with ibuprofen and S-metolachlor. S-metolachlor, whether alone or paired with ibuprofen or diclofenac, increased the toxicity at lower effective concentrations in the mixtures. Non-toxic terbuthylazine showed great toxicity-enhancing ability, especially at low concentrations. Several combinations displayed synergistic effects at environmentally relevant concentrations. The application of PERMANOVA was proven to be unique and successful in determining the roles of compounds in synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects in mixtures at different effective concentrations.

An erroneous squat movement might cause different injuries in amateur athletes who are not experts in workout exercises. Even when personal trainers watch out for the athletes’ workout performance, light variations in ankles, knees, and lower back movements might not be recognized. Therefore, we present a smart wearable to alert athletes whether their squats performance is correct. We collect data from people experienced with workout exercises and from learners, supervising personal trainers in annotation of data. Then, we use data preprocessing techniques to reduce noisy samples and train Machine Learning models with a small memory footprint to be exported to microcontrollers to classify squats’ movements. As a result, the k-Nearest Neighbors algorithm with k = 5 achieves an 85% performance and weight of 40 KB of RAM.

In the present study, we present the activities of Hungarian nursery services focusing on supporting families. Our research is based on a questionnaire survey carried out between March and June 2018. We used the database of the Hungarian Association of Nurseries that includes 1225 nursery schools in Hungary and we sent the online questionnaire to each of these institutions. We received answers from 289 institutions which are 23.6% of the nurseries in the database. The aim of the research: is to examine the changing system of nurseries and to present the family support services beyond the basic nursery services in Hungary. As a result of the research, it can be concluded that the basic program of nurseries allows for the provision of other family support services in addition to the basic care and education tasks, but this is not extended to nursery services.

Diatoms are widely applied in the ecological status assessment of aquatic ecosystems using indices calculated from pollution sensitivity and indicator values of species. Traditional, morphology-based identification of species requires in-depth taxonomic knowledge and expertise. Identifying taxa according to their barcode sequences obtained with high-throughput sequencing (metabarcoding) would be a promising alternative. In this pilot study, we tested the applicability of metabarcoding of benthic diatom assemblages for the ecological status assessment of Hungarian water bodies, comparing its performance to that of morphology-based identification of species. The barcode region of the rbcL gene was investigated in samples from running waters with various trophic states and unique lentic habitats, namely soda pans. For running waters, the Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index (IPS) and for soda pans the H index and the Indice Biologique Diatomées (IBD) were calculated from the morphology- and sequence-based abundances. The ecological quality ratio was determined for running waters. Overall, more infrageneric taxa were found with microscopy than with metabarcoding in the lotic and lentic samples. The correspondence between taxon lists detected by the two methods was relatively low but increased considerably in the case of morphologically dominant taxa. Community composition based on microscopy and DNA sequence analysis showed a significant correlation and was determined by the same main environmental drivers. Morphology-based indices strongly correlated with sequence-based indices. Both aspects indicated the same ecological status class for more than half of the lotic samples. In other cases, a status shift from good to moderate was frequent, a phenomenon that could prove problematic because the Water Framework Directive prescribes intervention for waters with a moderate or worse status. Considering discrepancies between the results obtained with microscopy and metabarcoding, using both methods in parallel could be proposed until the reference database has been suitably updated.

Our research carried out in Nagyecsed is part of a longer series of research consisting of ten items, in which we primarily seek to map the main social characteristics and current social processes of settlements with the lower populations in the less-favoured regions of the country. In the course of the research, our goal is basically to get to know and present the perspectives of the local residents. A crucial consideration in the selection of the research sites was that smaller settlements in these peripheral regions are experiencing rather unfavourable socio-demographic trends, including in particular the declining population, aging, and the growing proportion of disadvantaged populations, including disadvantaged Roma. These processes - if no significant changes take place - project an even more unfavourable vision than at present. The unfavourable socio-demographic tendencies can be clearly seen in Nagyecsed. In connection with this, the main goal of the research is to explore the situation of the Roma, as well as the local community relations, especially the coexistence characteristics of the Roma and non-Roma population.

The aim of this article is to model mechanical behavior of a filament-wound, rubber-based composite tube subjected to uniaxial tension at low temperature by test experiments and FE simulations. Uniaxial tensile tests at sub-zero temperature (-40 °C) have been carried out on standard test specimens and on hose pieces. furthermore, a uniaxial tensile test has been performed on a hose piece at room temperature as a reference experiment. Reinforcement layers of the composite tube are modeled as transversely isotropic, whereas elastomer liners are described by 2 parameter Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic material model. Temperature-dependence of elastic constants of composite layers is attributed to the temperature-dependence of rubber, so uniaxial tensile tests on standard test specimens needed to be carried out for determining material properties of rubber at sub-zero temperature (-40°C). Force-displacement results of FE models and experiments of standard test specimen and hose piece show good agreement. Likewise, force-displacement curves of reference experiment (carried out at room temperature) and its related FE simulation are in good agreement with each other. Slope of force-displacement curves of hose piece at -40 °C is nearly 3.4 times the slope of force-displacement curves of hose piece at room temperature.

The aim of this study is to investigate the global buckling of a relatively long composite cord–rubber tube subjected to axial compression and its cross-sectional instability due to bending by a macromechanical nonlinear finite element (FE) model (nonlinear buckling analysis). Composite reinforcement layers are modelled as transversely isotropic ones, while elastomer liners are described by a hyperelastic material model that assumes incompressibility. Force–displacement, equivalent strain, equivalent stress results along with oblateness and curvature results for the complete process have been presented. It is justified that bending leads to ovalization of the cross section and results in a loss of the load-carrying capacity of the tube. Strain states in reinforcement layers have been presented, which imply that the probable failure modes of the reinforcement layers are both delamination and yarn-matrix debonding. There is a significant increase in strains due to cross-sectional instability, which proves that the effect of cross-sectional instability on material behaviour of the tube is crucial. A parametric analysis has been performed to investigate the effect of the member slenderness ratio on cross-sectional instability of the composite tube. It shows that Brazier force is inversely proportional to the slenderness ratio. It further shows that higher oblateness parameters occur in case of a lower slenderness ratio and that cross-sectional instability takes place at a lower dimensionless displacement in case of a lower slenderness ratio. FE results have been validated by a compression/bending test experiment conducted on a tensile test machine.

Kisspeptins (Kp) are RF-amide neuropeptide regulators of the reproductive axis that also influence anxiety, locomotion, and metabolism. We aimed to investigate the effects of intracerebroventricular Kp-8 (an N-terminally truncated octapeptide) treatment in Wistar rats. Elevated plus maze (EPM), computerized open field (OF), and marble burying (MB) tests were performed for the assessment of behavior. Serum LH and corticosterone levels were determined to assess kisspeptin1 receptor (Kiss1r) activation and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) stimulation, respectively. GABA release from the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dopamine release from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and NAc were measured via ex vivo superfusion. Kp-8 decreased open arm time and entries in EPM, and also raised corticosterone concentration, pointing to an anxiogenic effect. Moreover, the decrease in arm entries in EPM, the delayed increase in immobility accompanied by reduced ambulatory activity in OF, and the reduction in interactions with marbles show that Kp-8 suppressed exploratory and spontaneous locomotion. The increase in GABA release from the NAc might be in the background of hypolocomotion by inhibiting the VTA-NAc dopaminergic circuitry. As Kp-8 raised LH concentration, it could activate Kiss1r and stimulate the reproductive axis. As Kiss1r is associated with hyperlocomotion, it is more likely that neuropeptide FF receptor activation is involved in the suppression of locomotor activity.

A technológiai fejlődés következtében az internet és az IKT-eszközök manapság szinte bárki számára elérhetőek, a fiatalok körében pedig a használat általánossá, szinte folyamatossá vált. Ennek következtében egyebek mellett átalakultak a fiatalok kommunikációs szokásai, de az online világ okozta veszélyekkel is szembe kell nézniük. Ilyen veszély lehet az internetfüggőség, a megtévesztés, az online zaklatás is. Tanulmányunkban utóbbi problémát helyeztük középpontba, és a digitális átalakulás hatásainak ábrázolása után az online zaklatás veszélyeit mutatjuk be nagymintás kutatások felhasználásával. Ezek után a gyermekvédelem lehetőségeit tekintjük át a probléma kezelése, megelőzése kapcsán.

Bone tissue regeneration is a major, worldwide medical need, and several strategies have been developed to support the regeneration of extensive bone defects, including stem cell based bone grafts. In addition to the application of stem cells with high osteogenic potential, it is important to maintain proper blood flow in a bone graft to avoid inner graft necrosis. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may form both osteocytes and endothelial cells; therefore we examined the combined in vitro osteogenic and endothelial differentiation capacities of MSCs derived from adipose tissue, Wharton’s jelly, and periodontal ligament. Based on a detailed characterization presented here, MSCs isolated from adipose tissue and periodontal ligament may be most appropriate for generating vascularized bone grafts.

Stress is an integral component of life that can sometimes cause a critical overload, depending on the qualitative and quantitative natures of the stressors. The involvement of actin, the predominant component of dendritic integrity, is a plausible candidate factor in stress-induced neuronal cytoskeletal changes. The major aim of this study was to compare the effects of three different stress conditions on the transcription and translation of actin-related cytoskeletal genes in the rat brain. Male Wistar rats were exposed to one or other of the frequently used models of physical stress, i.e. electric foot shock stress (EFSS), forced swimming stress (FSS), or psychosocial stress (PSS) for periods of 3, 7, 14, or 21 days. The relative mRNA and protein expressions of β-actin, cofilin and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK-1) were determined by qRT- PCR and western blotting from hippocampus and frontal cortex samples. Stressor-specific alterations in both β-actin and cofilin expression levels were seen after stress. These alterations were most pronounced in response to EFSS, and exhibited a U-shaped time course. FSS led to a significant β-actin mRNA expression elevation in the hippocampus and the frontal cortex after 3 and 7 days, respectively, without any subsequent change. PSS did not cause any change in β-actin or cofilin mRNA or protein expression in the examined brain regions. EFSS, FSS and PSS had no effect on the expression of MAPK-1 mRNA at any tested time point. These findings indicate a very delicate, stress type-dependent regulation of neuronal cytoskeletal components in the rat hippocampus and frontal cortex.

Copyright of Gyermekgyógyászat is the property of Semmelweis Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the increasing number of studies describing behaviours, there are less knowledge of these behaviour's physiological background in wild populations. In this paper we investigated the relationship between health state, oxidative damage and behaviour in a wild collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) population. We defined health state as the ratio of heterophil granulocytes and limphocytes (H/L ratio). The number and ratio of leukocytes were counted in bloodsmears. Lower leukocyte ratio reflects better health state and lower stress level. We used plasma levels of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs) to measure oxidative damage. We collected blood samples from males during the courtship period and the chick-rearing period, while females were sampled only in the chick-rearing period. With regards to behaviour, we quantified novelty avoidance, aggression and risk-taking of males during courtship. There were no differences between sexes in H/L ratio and ROM levels. In one-year old males, ROM levels tended to be higher in the chick-rearing period. The correlation between H/L ratio and ROMs were significant only in females, namely lower oxidative damage associated with better health state. We found a correlation between novelty avoidance and ROM levels measured in the courtship period. The increase in ROMs might be caused by the demanding work of chick-rearing in one-year old males, while older males might have more experience in chick-rearing. Higher heterophil counts result in higher H/L ratio. Heterophils release radicals, which results in higher oxidative damage. Less novelty avoiding males might fly from a bigger distance to investigate novel objects getting close to its nest, resulting in a higher metabolism level, and higher plasma level of ROMs. More studies are needed for a deeper understanding of these patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industrial sector is improving its management systems and designing healthy workspaces by focusing on selecting the best ways to reduce accidents and optimize financial and human resources. Hand tools represent the general equipment used in a significant range of industrial jobs. This research aims to develop a tool selection method to help users, managers, and tool designers ensure awareness and care regarding ergonomics based on the anthropometrics of employees, considering the main risk factors for tool selection. The information, which relates to hand security risk factors and the established parameters set by official international institutions, is evaluated during the study. This paper also presents a safety risk assessment framework based on criteria collected through a survey from 10 experts to rate the initial risk value and determine its importance using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). As a result, the analysis identified the possibility of injury (with 73.06% accuracy) as the biggest concern for companies due to its immediate effects on workers’ health. It provides a decision regimen—a tool for decision-makers to design and plan prevention activities to reduce accidents, injuries, and possible illnesses. It further lays out a methodical and analytical model to be used by managers to ensure correct hand tool selection. This model can be used to reduce the possibility of illnesses or injuries for workers and tailor the ergonomic design of each workstation according to specific hand anthropometric data for the worker.

The year 2018 marks the 95th anniversary of the birth of this outstanding figure of Hungarian grassland research. His colleagues remember his life and work within the framework of this article. Imre Vinczeffy commenced his higher education in Cluj Napoca. He completed his university studies in Debrecen and graduated as an agricultural engineer in 1947. He worked at several research institutes. He was awarded the degree Candidate of Science in 1966 and the title Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in 1988. He was appointed Professor of Debrecen University of Agricultural Sciences in 1970. This is where he continued working for the rest of his life and passed away in autumn 2014. Imre Vinczeffy's work in grassland research and his grassland typological examinations are still valued as sources today. Using his research data, he worked out an ecology-based grassland classification. By using the climatic index he developed, the grassland mass can be regulated. He earned imperishable merit in Hungarian grassland research; in revaluating and utilizing grassland. He was member of the International Grassland Congress Continuing Committee in 1985-1993. In the course of his almost 6 decades of scientific activity, Imre Vinczeffy had more than 250 publications. From his works in the scientific literature, selected publications of a botanical reference have been listed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term kidney transplant (KT) allograft outcomes have not improved as expected despite a better understanding of rejection and improved immunosuppression. Previous work had validated a computed rejection score, the tissue common rejection module (tCRM), measured by amplification-based assessment of 11 genes from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) biopsy specimens, which allows for quantitative, unbiased assessment of immune injury. We applied tCRM in a prospective trial of 124 KT recipients, and contrasted assessment by tCRM and histology reads from 2 independent pathologists on protocol and cause biopsies post-transplant. Four 10-μm shaves from FFPE biopsy specimens were used for RNA extraction and amplification by qPCR of the 11 tCRM genes, from which the tCRM score was calculated. Biopsy diagnoses of either acute rejection (AR) or borderline rejection (BL) were considered to have inflammation present, while stable biopsies had no inflammation. Of the 77 biopsies that were read by both pathologists, a total of 40 mismatches in the diagnosis were present. The median tCRM scores for AR, BL, and stable diagnoses were 4.87, 1.85, and 1.27, respectively, with an overall significant difference among all histologic groups (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.0001). There were significant differences in tCRM scores between pathologists both finding inflammation vs. disagreement (p = 0.003), and both finding inflammation vs. both finding no inflammation (p < 0.001), along with overall significance between all scores (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.001). A logistic regression model predicting graft inflammation using various clinical predictor variables and tCRM revealed the tCRM score as the only significant predictor of graft inflammation (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.40–2.68, p < 0.0001). Accurate, quantitative, and unbiased assessment of rejection of the clinical sample is critical. Given the discrepant diagnoses between pathologists on the same samples, individuals could utilize the tCRM score as a tiebreaker in unclear situations. We propose that the tCRM quantitative score can provide unbiased quantification of graft inflammation, and its rapid evaluation by PCR on the FFPE shave can become a critical adjunct to help drive clinical decision making and immunosuppression delivery.

The concept of 'Cloud' as an IT notion emerged in the past years and proliferated within the business and IT professional community. The concept of cloud gained awareness both in the professional and scientific literature and in the practice of IT/IS world. The cloud has a profound impact on the Business Information Systems, especially on ERP systems. Indirectly, the cloud leads to a massive standardization on ERP systems and their services. In this paper, the authors provide a literature overview about the current situation of Cloud Computing and the requirements established by end-users against the other data processing facilities and systems, outstandingly the ERP systems. The majority of investigated cases are based on samples from Germany. Furthermore, the initial experiences of application are discussed. Separately, the recent selection objectives and criteria for ERP systems are investigated that came into existence because the appearance of Cloud in the IT environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Military Engineer / Hadmérnök is the property of National University of Public Service and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)